Mai chalau tractor 60 returns of luxury car

One of two Lexus cars given by a private company to Cà Mau provincial authorities, prompting public concerns and a Government promise to investigate. — Photo dantri.com.vn Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — The Government will direct authorities to investigate the controversial gifting of luxury cars by private companies to officials in the southern province of Cà Mau and the coastal city of Đà Nẵng. This was promised by Mai Tiến Dũng, head of the Government Office, at the monthly cabinet meeting held recently. The Prime Minister has tasked the Ministry of Finance, Government Inspectorate and Ministry of Justice, to look into the matter. The findings will then be made available to the media. According to media reports, two Lexus GX 460 currently in use by the Cà Mau People’s Committee – each costing about VNĐ3 billion (US$131,000) – were given as presents by Công Lý Ltd last March, ostensibly strictly for use in  “inspecting and directing climate change response activities.” … [Read more...] about Luxury car gifts to be probed

HA NOi — Ha Noi Police arrested Ngo Doan Phuc, 33, of Hoang Mai District, for allegedly illegally importing luxury cars from Laos and Cambodia for sale in Viet Nam. The police seized four cars, including a Hummer, Land Rover, Toyota Prado and Lexus, worth a total of VND6.3 billion (US$ 315,000). Initial investigations showed that Phuc had colluded with officials to take advantage of a policy that allows goods to be imported temporarily before being re-exported. Two face prosecution for drug trafficking HCM CITY — The Department of Investigative Police on Drug Crimes have proposed the Supreme People's Procuracy prosecute two people for drug trafficking. The married traffickers, Nguyen Thi Hai Anh and Nigerian Michael Ikenna Nduanya, lived in HCM City. Hai Anh was arrested last December when allegedly smuggling drugs from HCM City to China. Before that she is said to have smuggled drugs to Cambodia five times and received US$5,000.-VNS … [Read more...] about Man arrested for smuggling luxury cars

The southernmost province of Cà Mau has returned two Lexus cars presented by a local private company, the chief of the provincial People’s Committee office. — Photo tuoitre.vn CÀ MAU — The southernmost province of Cà Mau has returned two Lexus cars presented by a local private company, the chief of the provincial People’s Committee office, Nguyễn Đức Thánh, said yesterday. Thánh said that the move followed a regular meeting on Wednesday where Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc asked localities not to receive cars presented by enterprises. The province also informed the PM about the return of the cars, Thanh said. Local media had earlier reported on the two luxury Lexus GX 460 cars that the Công Lý Construction, Trade and Tourism Company presented to the Cà Mau People’s Committee ostensibly to be of service in preventing and controlling disasters like floods and forest fires in the province. — VNS … [Read more...] about Cà Mau returns two Lexus gift cars

Pork being checked for quality at a wholesale market in Hoàng Mai Disitrict in Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo Vũ Sinh Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — Hà Nội will deploy five cars this year to check the quality of food in markets, supermarkets and food stores in an effort to prevent low-quality food from being consumed, said Trần Văn Chung, deputy director of the municipal Health Department. The cars will show the results on the spot. Food products contaminated with chemicals will be seized immediately, which will make the public aware that the Government is serious about food safety, Chung said. One car is being used by Hà Nội’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Two cars are currently managed by the local Health Department, while two others are under the management of the city’s Department of Industry and Trade. According to Chung, Hà Nội this year has continued to develop safe food supply and production chains. The city currently has 60 food chains involved in … [Read more...] about Food-checking cars to be deployed in Hà Nội

Market surveillance personnel inspect bottles of smuggled alcohol before destroying them in a busted case taking place in the southern province of Bình Dương. — VNA/VNS Photo Huyền Trang Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — The crackdown on counterfeit and smuggled wines and cigars has tightened as the Tết holiday approaches. However, it seems that the fight has not been effective, with many consumers still wary when shopping for goods at markets in Hà Nội. Minh Trường, a resident in Hà Nội’s Hoàn Kiếm District, said that he struggled to buy foreign wines. Trường once bought a fake bottle of wine sold at a liquor shop even though he checked the wine carefully. “It is quite difficult to distinguish between fake and authentic products as the bottle, label and even the colour of fake wine look identical to the real one,” he said. Quỳnh Hương, another consumer in Hoàn Kiếm District, said that she no longer trusted the liquor stores in town. She usually bought wine from friends who … [Read more...] about Fake booze, cigars on the rise as Tết nears

HA NOI — Viet Nam is committed to making the 31st General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter Parliamentary Assembly a great success. National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong made this pledge in a review of preparations for the General Assembly to be held in Ha Noi from September 20-24. Trong told a NA Standing Committee meeting that Viet Nam wanted to leave visitors with a strong impression of a peaceful, stable and growing nation. "A rich and diverse Vietnamese culture, hospitable and friendly Vietnamese people and a dynamic and renovated National Assembly is a picture we want foreign friends to remember," Trong said. The theme for the General Assembly is "solidarity for the sustainable development of the ASEAN community". Trong said preparations were completed and an agenda had been sent out to members for feedback. Meanwhile, NA External Affairs Committee director Nguyen Van Son said the agenda would be divided among five committees: economic, social affairs, … [Read more...] about World lawmakers prepare to gather

Hà Nội is planning to bring the world-famous Formula One car race to the capital, Government Office chairman Mai Tiến Dũng confirmed on Thursday. — Photo vnexpress.net HÀ NỘI — Hà Nội is planning to bring the world-famous Formula One car race to the capital, Government Office chairman Mai Tiến Dũng confirmed on Thursday. During a press conference following a closed regular cabinet meeting, Dũng said that the Law on Sports allowed Việt Nam to host international sports events, including the F1 race. Hà Nội initially proposed to the Government to organise the race around the iconic Hoàn Kiếm (Returned Sword) Lake and along the adjacent streets in the city centre, but the idea was rejected after thorough reviews by both the city and ministries of planning and investment, and culture, sports and tourism. The capital then wanted to host the game in the Mỹ Đình sports complex in Nam Từ Liêm District to take advantage of the existing infrastructure there, Dũng … [Read more...] about Hà Nội seeks hosting F1 race

Viet Nam News By Paul Kennedy The Red River that dissects Hà Nội takes its name from the colour of the silt that tints the water. But maybe there’s another reason for its moniker as this 1,149 kilometre stretch has been the life blood of Việt Nam for hundreds of years. In the 19 th century it was a lucrative trade route to China and remained the main commercial route between French Indochina and Yunnan Province. Today cargo ships can be seen carrying goods to and from the many ports dotted along its banks. But unbeknown to many living in the capital city, the Red River is a place many people call home. Living in make-shift shelters constructed from just about any items they can scavenge, find or even recover from the river itself, around 25 families live in this floating community. A man walks across a home-made bridge to get to his floating house.— VNS Photo Nguyễn Hiếu Men, women and children crowd into these ‘floating homes’ turning the muddy banks … [Read more...] about The residents of Red River

A family of endangered red-shanked douc langurs (Pygathryx nemaeus) at the Sơn Trà Nature Reserve in Đà Nẵng. National parks and nature reserves have been urged to develop eco-tourism in the central and central highlands regions. — Photo courtesy GreenViet Viet Nam News ĐÀ NẴNG  — "Việt Nam’s nature reserves and national parks are aiming to boost eco-tourism to facilitate both conservation and economic growth, but their efforts have been hampered by a lack of planning, human resources and funds," said Lê Văn Lanh of the National Association for Nature Reserves in Việt Nam. Lanh, speaking at a conference in Đà Nẵng on biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in the central and central highlands regions last weekend, said just 61 out of the country’s 167 nature reserves had developed eco-tourism services in line with sustainable development goals. Slow planning and poor long-term strategies by State agencies and local administrations had left sites of rich … [Read more...] about National parks focus on eco-tourism development

NA deputies engage ministers in heated debate (17-06-2006) Cau Bang Bridge, which spans the Cua Luc River in Quang Ninh Province. — VNA/VNS Photo Nguyen Dan Ha NoI — National Assembly deputies yesterday continued their questions to the ministers of Construction, and Natural Resources and Environment, which often led to heated debates. Delegate Phan Trung Ly of Nghe An yesterday said that Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Mai Ai Truc had pledged to finish granting land-use rights certificates by 2005. However, the issuance of these certificates had not yet been completed. He asked the minister what the reasons were for this slow progress, what his responsibilities were and whether he had a solution for the problem. Minister Truc agreed with the statement and attributed the delay to problems with organisation, management as well as red-tapism. Truc noted that people’s committees at local levels took responsibility for granting land-use … [Read more...] about NA deputies engage ministers in heated debate